JPS6014207A - Method and tool for repairing and connecting optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for repairing and interconnecting optical fiber cables and tools for performing the same.

Due to advantages such as low cost, relatively light weight, and relatively wide transmission bandwidth, optical fiber cables are becoming widely used in a variety of communications applications. In the past, the construction of a cable often depended on its application. Recently, optical fiber cables have been developed that have applicability in subsea, underground, and terrestrial applications. The cable includes one or more buffered glass fibers encased in one or more protective layers molded from a suitable plastic material surrounding a metal or metal alloy enclosing tube and core assembly. .

The increasing interest in this type of cable is due in large part to the versatility of the role played by the encapsulating tube. For example, the tube may act as a strength member, an electrical conductor for powering placed repeaters or detectors, and/or a fluidic barrier along the length of the cable. The tube contains a suitable filler material, such as a mixture of rubber and polyethylene and/or at least one hydrocarbon, to further resist the ingress of water and cushion the optical fiber or fibers.

The main imperfection of optical fiber cable has been its brittleness. It is not unusual for optical fibers to break during use. Similarly, it is not unusual for optical fibers and/or encapsulation tubes to break or otherwise break during cable fabrication. Therefore, it is desirable to have a relatively simple technique that can be applied immediately after repairing a destroyed or broken cable.

Another drawback of many fiber optic cables is that they can only be manufactured in limited lengths.

If extremely long lengths of cable are required, this means that several cable lengths must be connected together. It would therefore also be desirable to have a readily applicable and relatively simple technique for connecting long cables together.

Various techniques for repair and/or connection cable construction are known in the art. In one such technique of cable connection, the ends of the cables that are to be connected together are first reduced in diameter using a swaging technique. Each end is then removed to expose the conductor portions that connect to each other. Once the conductor sections have been properly connected 1 to each other, a long longitudinally slotted tube is placed around the exposed connecting conductor sections. The tube is filled with a suitable circumferential material, such as powdered mineral insulating material, by inserting the insulating material into a slot in the tube. The long tube is then welded closed and connected to the cable end by welding or brazing. Therefore, the entire connection part is made as thin as the conductor part connection part, and the connected cable has a uniform outer diameter. Burputt U.S. Patent No. 4.375
, 720 illustrates this technique.

In a second technique, a pair of cable sections are joined together by first trimming the metal jacket section from the end of each section and removing the insulation to expose the conductor section.

Each metal jacket should be trimmed so that when it is later connected, a window area will remain open near the splice. After the conductor parts are joined together, the trimmed metal jackets are connected together by welding or brazing. Suitable N such as mineral insulators! 3. The edge is injected or inserted into the spliced cable section through the window area. The window area (2) is a shaped piece of metal that is welded thereto to form a splice of the same diameter as the cable part. This technique is described in Gray's US patent. No. 4,36, No. 917.

One shortcoming of these two techniques is that they rely on butt welds to connect the connecting tube or shaped metal section to the cable tube end or section. Butt welds generally have a tensile strength that is less than that of the metal forming the cable tube or jacket. As a result, such welding may ultimately result in the tube and/or the metal tube being required to function as a strength member.
Or it becomes a weak link that causes the cable to fail.

Yet another technique for splicing a pair of fiber optic cables together is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,614 to Riel. In this technique, at least one metal tube is placed to bridge the gap between the ends of a pair of non-metallic synthetic tubular sheaths enclosing an optical fiber. Attachment is performed using an inner tube, an outer tube, or an inner and outer tube. If only one tube is used, adhesive can be used to secure the tube to each pod. If inner and outer tubes are used, the tubes can be secured in position using adhesive or by collapsing the outer tube into the tubular sheath and inner tube. To avoid thickening the cable at splices, Reelz recommends using an outer tube with longitudinally extending slots so that the outer tube can be pushed and bundled into a tubular sheath.

The construction of the outer tube into a tubular sheath creates a tapered neck portion in each sheath and/or inner tube. The narrowed neck created by this technique reduces the overall strength of the articulation. Additionally, pushing on the outer tube and the structure may cause the optical fibers within the tubular sheath to break, such as by creating bends or microkinks that result in weakening.

In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for repairing and connecting lengths of optical fiber cable to each other that is relatively simple to implement. Using the method described herein, repairs or joints can be accomplished that do not interfere with the mechanical and/or gas conductive properties of the metal or metal alloy components of the cable. In some instances, the repair thin or seam connection is as strong as or stronger than the original cable structure.

The repair and connection method of the present invention is applicable to most any optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber encapsulated within a metal tube, such as a metal or metal alloy inclusion tube. When used to repair a fiber optic cable having a broken or broken optical fiber, the method of the present invention is carried out as follows: first, the optical fiber and any broken fiber end are separated; exposed except for the surrounding metal tube. Remove all of the filler material surrounding the exposed optical fibers and some filler material from the length of each tube. Once the fiber and the broken end are fully exposed, remove some of the cushioning material surrounding the broken fiber and prepare a clean end for splicing. The clean fiber ends are then spliced together using a suitable splicing technique. A hollow metal tubular member or tube is inserted into one of the metal tubes before the fiber ends are joined together. After the fibers are attached, a portion of the white wire is pulled out from the metal tube and placed so that it overlaps each tube. The white material is then mechanically secured to each tube, and the space inside the connected tubes created by removing the filler material from each tube is filled with a suitable filler material.

As a final step, an outer sheath is created close to the white area so that it overlaps and does not touch each tube.

The same method is also used to connect two lengths of optical fiber cable together. However, if each optical fiber extends a sufficient length from the surrounding tube to be spliced, the step of removing portions of the surrounding metal tube from the fiber is omitted.

To carry out the method of the present invention, the white tube preferably has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube into which it is inserted. Additionally, the long tube is approximately 6 1/2" to 2" longer than the total length of the connected and exposed fiber.

Since this concave ring forms the main element of the mending or seam Q according to the invention, it is of great importance that the material from which the whitening is formed must meet certain rigidity and/or conductivity criteria.

For example, the mending or connecting joint preferably has a tensile strength that is approximately equal to or greater than the tensile strength of the cable tube material, so the four-ring material has a tensile strength that is approximately equal to or greater than the cable tube material. Must have. If the material is to act as an electrical conductor, the four-ring material must also have an electrical conductivity equal to or better than that of the cable tube material. The four-ring material must also be readily bondable to the tube. In a preferred embodiment, the white material is made from a high strength steel alloy.

In some applications, the white material is made from steel or stainless steel tubing.

In order to facilitate the insertion of a filler into the filler to fill the void in the mending or seam area, the filler preferably has a feed hole in one of its side walls.

The feed hole is drilled into the white hole either before inserting the white hole into the tube or after the white hole is secured in position. A preferred way of carrying out the method of this invention is to drill a bleed hole in at least one of the tubes, and possibly both tubes adjacent to the seam or mending area. The bleed holes allow air to escape from the patch or seam area to prevent air bubbles from forming in the replaced filler material. The replacement filler material is preferably inserted into the tube through the feed hole. Any empty space haha! Once exhausted, the supply hole and/or the bleed hole are closed in a suitable manner.

The outer sleeve effectively seals the supply hole in the white area.

In practicing the invention, the fiber ends are connected together using splicing techniques conventional in the art.

Suitable bonding techniques include fusion bonding, adhesive bonding, and mechanical joint bonding.

Any suitable technique known in the art may be used to mechanically secure the white pigment to each tube. However, in the preferred embodiment, the white pigment is secured to each tube using solder, brazing material, or conductive epoxy. Preferably, the selected fastening technique flows a suitable sealing material into the intermediate plane between each tube and the tube to form a lap joint.

A split metal tube with a longitudinal split is fitted over the white surface to form an outer sleeve around the white surface. Once the metal tube is in place, the splits are closed by soldering, brazing, welding, or other suitable techniques, and the sleeves are each sealed with a suitable adhesive such as solder or epoxy. fixed to the tube. The outer sleeve is preferably equal to the outside diameter of the tube and the gap between the outside diameter and the tube is equal! have equal length. If necessary, the outer sleeve can be reduced in size by swaging, etc. to reduce its outer diameter! K is the same as the outside diameter of the tube. If the outer sleeve is to act as an electrical conductor, what is the cable tube material! It should be made of a material with equal or greater electrical conductivity.

Instead of a metal tube, the outer sleeve has a molded non-metallic coating or metal or metal alloy tape overlaid. Of course, non-metallic coatings are only used if the outer sleeve does not function as an electrical conductor.

After the repair cord or articulation joint is made, the repaired cable or connected long cable has an outer layer formed thereon.

According to the present invention, a tool for repairing a broken or destroyed optical fiber cable and for connecting a plurality of long optical fiber cables includes a means for removing a portion of a metal tube enclosing an optical fiber; It includes means for adhering to each other, a ring of metal or metal alloy, means for injecting a filler material into the outer sleeve and the metal tube, an outer sleeve, and means for securing the outer sleeve to each metal tube. The blank has a pre-drilled supply hole in one side wall or the tool has means for drilling a supply hole in the blank and/or at least one bleed hole in each cable tube. The tool also includes a means for swaging the outer sleeve, a means for holding the cable tube in a fixed position, if necessary, and a means for removing filler material and/or surface material from around the optical fiber. include.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for repairing or splicing fiber optic cables.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method as described above which is relatively simple to implement.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method as described above which does not interfere with the optical properties of the optical fiber and the mechanical and/or electrical conduction properties of the metal encapsulating tube in which the fiber is encapsulated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool for practicing the above method.

These and other objects will become clearer from the following description and drawings. Like elements in the drawings have like reference numbers.

According to the invention, it is proposed to provide a method for repairing or connecting to each other optical fiber cables having at least one metal or metal alloy tube surrounding an optical fiber. Furthermore, it is proposed that the optical properties of the eyeglass of the present invention are not impaired.

The method of the invention is completed by mechanically connecting a metal tubular sleeve or blank to each cable section or length of cable that connects each other. The white tube is preferably formed from a material that has mechanical and/or electrical conduction properties equal to or better than the metal tube in which the optical fiber is encapsulated.

Referring now to the drawings, two fiber optic cables 10 and 12 are shown to be connected together. The cable sections 10 and 12 are obtained from two unused long cables to be connected together or from one cable structure in which the optical fiber 14 has been destroyed but broken. Each cable section generally has at least one optical fiber 14 and a metal or metal alloy encapsulation tube 16 in which a filler material 18 is encapsulated.

If cable sections 10 and 12 are from a single cable structure with a fractured or broken optical fiber, an outer layer (not shown) around tube 16 in the area where the repair is to be made. is formed by first removing the Once the tube 16 is stripped, a portion of the tube 16 is removed to expose the broken fiber section or broken fiber end. Any suitable method known in the art is used to remove the outer layer and tube portion, such as a razor blade and/or a pipe cutting tool. In a preferred method of carrying out the method of the invention, a sufficient length of tube 16 is removed. It is about 1" (25,4wn) to about 4 of the unbroken fiber 14
N(101,6tt!R), most preferably about 2'
(50,8) to approximately 3" (76,2) extend from each of cable sections 10 and 12.

If cable sections 10 and 12 are cables that are not yet in use, the connection method of the invention is preferably carried out before making the outer layer. Each unused cable 3 has a length of fiber 1 extending from the end to be connected to each other.
Approximately 1 in 4 (25,4,) to approximately 4' (101,6 positions)
, and preferably about 2" (50,8 electric) to about 3" C76
, 2■) is better. If desired, the containment tube 16 of sections 10 and 12 is trimmed using a suitable tube cutting device 20 to expose the desired length of optical fiber 14. If there is no need to trim the tube 16 of either cable section 10 or 12, the tube cutting device is omitted.

Cable sections 10 and 1 with exposed fiber ends 2G
2 is prepared, each part is preferably placed in a suitable holding device 22, such as a vise, clamp or the like. Each cable section should be placed in the holding device 22 so that the metal tube 16 is free from any twisting.

When carrying out the repair or connection method of the present invention, it is necessary to instantaneously connect a clean inner tube section to the location where the repair or articulation joint is to be made. As a result, filler material 18 near the mending or articulating stitch location must be removed. Preferably, enough filler material 18 is removed so that a field 30, described more fully below, is fully inserted into each tube 16. The filler material 18 can be filled by any suitable means 24 known in the art.
be removed using . For example, filling material removal means 24
has a wiping or spreading device. In some situations, the filling material removal means may have a blank field 30.

After the filler material is removed, the fiber cavities 26 are prepared to be spliced together. Depending on the fiber splicing technique used, it may be desirable to remove a portion of the l&m material surrounding the fiber end 26. The abrasive material is removed using conventional means 28 known in the art, such as a knife or razor blade.

To splice most fibers, approximately 1
Approximately 3" (76,2 cuts) should be removed from each fiber end 26, preferably about 2" (50,8-v).

Before joining the fibers 91Y1 sections 26 together, a hollow cylindrical tubular member or field 30 is inserted into one of the cable sections 10 or 12. The white field 3o is inserted around the fiber 14. White field 30 extends into tube 16 a sufficient distance such that a sufficient portion of each fiber 14 remains exposed to permit fiber splicing.

The white field has an outer diameter such that it can be inserted and fitted into each tube 16. Preferably, the outer diameter of the white field is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 16.

If possible, the outer diameter of the white field should be approximately 0-01 smaller than the inner diameter of the tube.
'CD-25m=) Smaller is better. By doing so, a slight gap is created between the white field 30 and the tube 16 when they are overlapped. The reason for the gap is discussed below.

The fiber end 26 is connected to any suitable connection means 3 known in the art.
2 are attached to each other. For example, the ends 26 may be connected by fusion bonding, contact bonding, or epoxying a suitable mechanical joint thereto. After the fiber ends 26 have been spliced, the fiber seam area is covered with a suitable dampening material, not shown.

Referring now to FIG. 5, after the fiber splicing is complete, the four rings 30 are moved into position over the fiber splice and into overlapping relation with each tube 16. The four rings 30 are of sufficient length to allow a suitable overlap or intermediate surface area 34 between the four rings 30 and each tube 160. Preferably tetracyclic 30
is approximately 2' (12
-7t-) to about 2' (50,8■) long lengths. In the most preferred embodiment, the four-ring 30 has a length approximately 1' (25,4 m) longer than the total length of the exposed connecting fiber 14.

When carrying out the method of the invention, it is extremely important that the four rings 30 are made of a material with reliable strength and electrically conductive properties. For example, since the four rings 30 are intended to be strong, the white field material is preferably
What is the tensile strength of the material that forms it? It has a tensile strength equal to 1.) or higher. By forming the four rings 30 from such materials, it is possible to have the same or greater strength as the original cable structure 7 for mending or articulating joints formed by the method of the present invention.

If the tube 16 acts as an electrical conductor and the four rings are simply metal elements joining the tube, the white field material will also have an electrical conductivity comparable to that of the material forming the tube 16. Should. The blank material must also be able to be bonded to the tube 16. Preferably tetracyclic 30
Steel, stainless steel and O, D, A, copper alloy 6380
0.0, 65400, 68800, and 51000, including but not limited to high strength steel alloys.

Once the four rings 30 are in place, they are secured to each tube 16. Suitable fastening techniques known in the art include four-ring 30
is used to secure the tube to the tube 16. Preferably,
The four rings 30 are attached to each tube 16 using a suitable sealing material 35 such as solder, braze, or conductive epoxy.
mechanically fixed to the The sealing technique used is to flow sealing material 35 into the gap between ring 30 and tube 16 to create a lap joint. In the preferred embodiment, eight four rings 3o are soldered to each tube 16. If you wish,
The four rings 30 are coated with a sealing material comparable to the sealing material 35 (not shown) to improve the strength of the joint. For example, something with a four-ring outer surface or! All 60% tin.
40% coated with a suitable solder such as ship solder. Conventional means 36 known in the art are used to secure four rings 30 to each tube 16.

It is desirable to remove voids created by displacing a portion of filler material 18 from tube 16 so that the finished cable has uniform properties and structure. It is also desirable to surround the spliced fibers inside the four-ring 30 with a suitable filler material.

Next, for this purpose, a four-ring 30
preferably has a feed hole 38 in one of its side walls. The supply hole 38 is drilled into the four ring before inserting the four ring into one of the tubes 16 or after the four ring 30 is secured to the tube 1G. Preferably, the edges of the drilled feed holes 38 are rounded after the holes are rounded.

Feed hole 38 is used to introduce replacement filler material 18' into ring 30 and tube 16. A tube 16 to which is attached any suitable means known in the art, such as subcutaneous injection.
and is used to inject a replacement filler material 18' into the fourth ring 30. Replacement filler material 18' includes any suitable void filler known in the art, such as colloid or long chain polyethylene material.

So that the air inside the four rings 30 and the tube 16 escapes.
A bleed hole 40 is provided in at least one of the tubes 16.

Preferably, each tube 16 has at least one bleed hole 40.
has. Bleed holes 40 are formed by drilling at least one hole in each tube. After drilling the holes, round the inner edges of each hole. Installing the bleed hole 40 will prevent air bubbles from forming in the replacement filling material 18'. In addition, the bleed hole acts as an indicator to determine when the void is empty. If replacement filling material 1
When 8' flows out of the bleed hole, the void is gone.

When practicing the present method, it is desirable to seal each bleed hole 40 after injection of filler material. Suitable sealing techniques known in the art using conventional sealing devices 44 include bleed holes 40.
used to close. Preferably, each bleed hole 40 is soldered closed. If desired, although not required, the feed hole 38 may be sealed.

As a final step in the method of the invention, the concentric outer sleeve 4
6 is made around the four rings 30. The outer sleeve 46 was originally for the cable! It is intended to provide a uniform outer diameter dimension; however, if constrained, it will act as an electrical conductor. As best seen in FIG. 5, outer sleeve 46 preferably includes a hollow, cross-shaped split tubular member with longitudinal slits 48. As best seen in FIG. The split tubular member is preferably used so that it easily fits into the ring 30.

Depending on the function of the sleeve, the outer sleeve 46 may be formed from a metallic or non-metallic material. For example, sleeve 46 is molded epoxy, polyester, or other suitable plastic material. Obviously, when used in the role of a conductor, the sleeve 46 is formed from a metallic material such as stainless steel, copper or a copper alloy. Preferably, sleeve 46 comprises a copper or copper alloy member.

The sleeve 46 is preferably in the gap between the tubes 16!
have equal length. It is also the outer diameter of tube 16!
It has a closed outer diameter with equal splits 48 and a closed inner diameter with splits 48 that are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the four rings. In practicing the present invention, outer sleeve 46 and four rings 3 are
It can be seen that it is desirable to avoid a slip fit between zeros.

Preferably, the distance between the four rings 30 and the sleeve 46 is about 0.00.
1' (0,025 gourd) to about 0.01' (0,25
There is a gap (simple).

Once sleeve 46 is placed over ring 30, gap 48 is preferably sealed. The sleeve 46 is placed over the four rings 30 so that the slot 48 does not overlap the supply hole 38. Preferably, the split 48 is located about 180 degrees away from the feed hole 38. The split 48 is sealed using any suitable sealing technique such as soldering, brazing or applying an epoxy adhesive 2 and any suitable sealing means 50 known in the art.

If possible, the gap 48 is closed by soldering.

Once the split is sealed, sleeve 46 is joined to tube 16. Once again, suitable sealing techniques and equipment known in the art are used. The joining technique chosen preferably flows a joining or sealing material, such as solder, braze or epoxy, into the gap between the sleeve 46 and the four rings 30.

By allowing the sealing material 52 to flow into the gap, the tensile failure strength of the repair or articulation joint is optimized. In the preferred embodiment, outer sleeve 46 is soldered to each tube 16.

Sleeve 46 has an outer shape and outer diameter that matches tube 16. However, if desired, outer sleeve 46 may reduce its outer diameter and/or follow conventional techniques known in the art to match its outer shape to that of tube 16.

For example, sleeve 46 may be swaged using any suitable swaging device known in the art.

Instead of using a preformed split tubular member, one outer sleeve is made by wrapping a tape (not shown) of a suitable material around the four rings 30.

The ends of the tape are secured to each tube 16 by any suitable means known in the art.

Once the repair or articulation is completed, the repaired or connected cable is removed from the retainer 22°. Then an outer layer is created around the cable.

For example, one or more layers of a suitable plastic or plastics material are extruded around the cable.

The solder preferably used to join the four-ring 30 to the tube 161C, seal the split 48, and join the outer sleeve 46 to the tube 16 includes any suitable solder known in the art. For example, it includes a 60% tin-40% lead solder.

A mend or articulation joint made by the method of the invention is nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the cable. A mend or articulating joint has mechanical strength properties very similar or better than the original cable and connects the optical fiber to an OH-
Provides a seal to protect against degradation.

It is believed that in accordance with the present invention there has been provided an optical cable repair and splicing technique and a tool for carrying out the technique which fully satisfies the objects, means and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it will be apparent that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, all such alternatives which fall within the spirit and broad scope of the foregoing claims;
Modifications and variations are intended to be covered.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention for repairing or interconnecting fiber optic cables. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pair of optical fiber cables or cable sections connecting or arranging each other. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cable or cable sections of FIG. 2 with the white part moved to a position where it bridges the gap between the cables or cable sections. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view 1' illustrating the method of inserting a suitable filler material into the cable or cable section of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tubular member used as the outer sleeve. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an articulating joint or repair according to the present invention. 10... Optical fiber cable section 12... Optical fiber cable section 14... Optical fiber 16... Tube 18... Filling material 22... Holding device 30... Tubular member 35... ... Sealing material 38 ... Supply hole 40 ... Bleeding hole 46 ... Outer sleeve filter 6 48 ... Split agent Hiroshi Asamura

Claims (1)

Claims: (1) A method of repairing or interconnecting fiber optic cables, wherein at least two spaced apart cable sections (10, 12) are provided, each said cable section having an inner diameter and a metal tube (16) with an outer diameter, at least one optical fiber (14) and a filling material (
18), each said fiber having an exposed end (26) extending beyond said tube; a hollow fiber having an outer diameter adapted to fit within the inner diameter of each said tunnel; providing a metal tubular member (30); disposing said tubular member within said first tube (12) such that said tubular member surrounds said at least one fiber within a first of said tubes; inserting: splicing the fiber ends together to form at least one tapered optical fiber; overlaying the tubular member over the spliced fiber ends and overlapping each of the tubes; and said moving procedure creates an intermediate surface area between each said tube and said member (
forming a tubular member (34); joining said tubular member to each said tube to form a continuous joint between said tubes; and an outer sleeve (34) having a length approximately equal to the distance between said tubes;
46) is formed around the tubular member. A method for repairing and connecting optical fiber cables, wherein the outer sleeve has an outer diameter that is exactly equal to the outer diameter of each of the tubes and is adapted to serve as an extension of the outer circumference of the tubes. (2) The cable portion consists of one long metal tube (1
6) and at least one fiber (14
) and one long optical fiber cable (10
) and forming said at least two spaced apart metal tubes and removing a portion of said metal tubes to expose said at least one optical fiber. An optical fiber cable repair and connection method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises: (3) Can you insert the tubular member? removing at least some of said filler material (18) from each of said tubes to provide a clean inner tube area, the removal of said filler material creating a void within each said tube; a hole (38) is provided in one of the side walls; and the tubular member is placed in overlapping relation with each of the tubes in order to completely fill the tube void and fill the interior area of the tubular member. Claims characterized in that a filling material (18') is injected through said hole to replace said tubular member, said replacement filling material substantially surrounding said spliced fiber end (26). The optical fiber cable repair and connection method according to paragraph 1. (4) Air bleed holes (40
); and sealing each of the bleed holes after injection of the replacement filler material is completed. (5) said outer sleeve forming a procedure consisting of positioning a hollow tubular sleeve (46) with a longitudinal split (48) around said tubular member and sealing said split; , the tubular sleeve with the sealed split has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of each tube and an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular member to provide a gap between the outer sleeve and the tubular member. An optical fiber cable repair and connection method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises: (6) said tubular member joining step includes flowing a first sealing material (35) within said intermediate surface area (34) to form a lap joint between said tubular member and each said tube; and Optical device according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer sleeve is joined to each tube by flowing a second filler material (52) into the gap between the sleeve and the tubular member. How to repair and connect fiber cables. Each long cable has an outer diameter, an inner diameter, at least one optical fiber (i4) and a filling material inside the tube (
18), and each fiber has an exposed end (26) extending beyond said tube. , a hollow tubular member (30) having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of each tube such that the tubular member is inserted into each tube in a payout manner to bridge the gap between the tubes;
the tubular member has at least a hole (38) for inserting a replacement filler material (18') into the tubular member, and the tubular member is joined to each of the tubes so as to A tool for connecting optical fiber cables, characterized in that it has means (36) for forming a continuous joint between them. (8) means for attaching the exposed fiber ends together to form at least one single long optical fiber;
32). The tool according to claim 7, characterized in that it has: (9) means (42) for injecting said replacement filler material into said tubular member, wherein said replacement filler material fills the interior area of said tubular member so as to fill the cavity of said tube; ! 8. A tool according to claim 7, characterized in that it is filled. Qα an outer sleeve (4
6); and means (5) for joining said outer sleeve to each said tube.
0). The tool according to claim 9, characterized in that it has: 01) means (54) for swaging said outer sleeve so that said outer sleeve has an outer diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of said tubes and an outer diameter commensurate with the shape of each said tube;
11. A tool according to claim 10, characterized in that it has: 02 Optical fiber cable used in telecommunications applications, comprising at least two spaced apart metal or metal alloy tubes (16); each of said tubes carrying at least one optical fiber (16);
14) containing; each optical fiber of a first of said tubes connected to a corresponding optical fiber of a second of said tubes; within each tube and joined to each tube; a hollow metal wing (30), said wing being in overlapping relationship with each of said tubes and bridging the gap between said tubes; said connected fiber passing through said wing; concentric; an outer sleeve (46) enclosing a portion of the white butterfly, said outer sleeve having a non-overlapping relative position with said tube, the portions of said white butterfly having equal lengths; are joined to each of the tubes, such that the white butterfly and the outer sleeve form an articulating joint between the tubes. 03 The outer sleeve is made of metal or metal alloy and for the cable! On the outer periphery of the tube to form a continuous surface! having a corresponding outer circumference;
and the white butterfly is formed from a high-strength material selected from the group consisting of copper alloy, steel or stainless steel, such that the white butterfly primarily serves as a strength member and the outer sleeve and the tube are electrically conductive. 13. Optical fiber cable according to claim 12, characterized in that it plays the role of a fiber optic cable. 0.11 The white butterfly connects each of the tubes and the intermediate surface area (
34) having an outer diameter adapted to fit within the inner diameter of each of said tubes to form; and each said intermediate surface area to form a lap joint between said white butterfly and each said tube; 13. Optical fiber cable according to claim 12, characterized in that it has a sealing material (35) therein. 05) The outer sleeve has an inner circumference spaced from the outer circumference of the white butterfly; and a sealing material (52) is located in the space between the outer sleeve and the white butterfly to increase the strength of the articulating joint. Claim 12 is characterized in that it improves the
Optical fiber cable as described in Section 1. 13. Optical fiber cable according to claim 12, characterized in that the white butterfly has a hole (38) for inserting a filler material (18') into the inner part of the white butterfly and the tube.